As founder and producing director of The Black Rep, Ron Himes has worked with scores of playwrights to stage hundreds of shows, including dozens of world premieres. This spring, The Black Rep will present new plays by a two celebrated young dramatists: Melda Beaty’s “Coconut Cake” and Kelundra Smith’s “The Wash.”

Decades ago, a group of WashU women formed a deep friendship as sorority sisters. Now, some 65 years later, it’s still going strong.